Research stories
The rich history of the Australian honours system
The first detailed history of the Australian honours system reveals key debates that have characterised the institution for decades and highlights long-standing contests about who is recognised and why. Gender balance, diversity, the use of titles, and recognition for paid versus voluntary…
Australians are living longer from lockdowns
Pandemic restrictions have led to longer life expectancy for Australians, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found. A silver lining to seemingly endless days in lockdown is that Australians' life expectancy jumped in 2020. Instead of the expected average…
Swamp soundtrack brings Murrumbidgee to life online
A wetland on the Murrumbidgee River has been brought to life in a whole new way, thanks to an interactive website showcasing its unique inhabitants. The Sound of Water is a collaboration between researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), Charles Sturt University and the…
Vast majority of Australians want COVID-19 boosters
More than seven-in-10 vaccinated Australians say they will definitely get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot when it is recommended to them, new analysis from The Australian National University (ANU) shows. The survey of more than 3,400 people, the largest longitudinal study on the pandemic…
New ANU research explodes quota myth in politics
New research from Australian National University researchers Dr Katrine Beauregard and Dr Marija Taflaga provides unique insights into the effectiveness and limitations of party level quotes for improving women’s presentation in politics. A new study by Dr Katrine Beauregard and Dr Marija Taflaga…
Domestic violence goes unrecognised in faith communities
Australians who are frequently involved in religion and who identify as religious are less likely to acknowledge domestic violence is an issue within their faith community, despite acknowledging it as a national issue, a new study has found. Led by researchers at The…
Prehistoric mums cared for kids better than we thought
A new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has revealed the death rate of babies in ancient societies is not a reflection of poor healthcare, disease and other factors, but instead is an indication of the number of babies born in that era. The findings shed new light on the…